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What happens inside our brain when we wake up, fall asleep, or have that all important Eureka moment? Andrew will help us to understand more about semi-stable states within the brain. However, while we can look at the brain for answers, there's also things we can physically do to solve some of psychology's most complicated questions. Can writing about our positive experiences really improve our emotional well-being? See for yourself as we practice some expressive writing with Michael. Need inspiration? Perhaps you could write about the fantastic night you've had at Pint of Science!
Improving psychological wellbeing through expressive writing
Dr Michael Smith
(Associate Professor, Northumbria University)
Writing expressively about emotional experiences is known to have benefits for psychological wellbeing and physical health. In this talk, it will be discussed how writing about positive life experiences can reduce stress and anxiety, and increase positive mood. Furthermore, findings related to our Covid-19 pandemic study show that writing about the positive aspects of being in lockdown helped reduce anxiety. Finally, it will be discussed whether writing letters of gratitude can enhance mood. As part of this session, you will get the opportunity to try some expressive writing techniques.
Eurekas, seizures, and other brain tipping points
Professor Andrew Trevelyan
(Professor of Network Neuroscience, Newcastle University)
When investigating something so complex as brain activity, it is often difficult to understand the problem. This talk will discuss how ideas developed in the field of physics are helping us understand brain function. These concern concepts of semi-stable states, and how these might suddenly switch to a completely different state, and stay there. These state changes are termed tipping points. They are a helpful way to understand what is happening when our brains are altered at the moments we wake or fall asleep, have a seizure, or that Eureka moment, when we suddenly just get something.
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